Crowded U.S. Open leaderboard but world top three miss cut
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[June 17, 2017]
By Steve Keating
ERIN, Wisconsin (Reuters) - Paul Casey
rode a rollercoaster to a four-way share of second-round lead at the
U.S. Open on Friday but it was the end of the line for the world's
three top-ranked players.
Among the early starters on another steamy day at Erin Hills, Casey
survived a hair-raising round that included a gut-wrenching
triple-bogey and a thrilling run of five straight birdies and ended
with him signing for one-under 71.
The Englishman then sat back and watched as compatriot Tommy
Fleetwood and Americans Brooks Koepka and Brian Harman each carded
two-under 70 to join him at the top of a crowded leaderboard at
seven-under.
Lurking one back are a trio of Americans Jamie Lovemark (69), J.B.
Holmes (69) and overnight leader Rickie Fowler, who slumped to a
one-over 73, carding three consecutive bogeys in a back nine
retreat.
It was day of sizzling drama on the links-style layout that featured
stunning birdie runs and spectacular collapses -- some like Casey
coming on the same scorecard.
The biggest jolt of all, however, came watching world number one and
defending champion Dustin Johnson, number two Rory McIlroy and
number three Jason Day all trudge to the exit after failing to make
the halfway cut, which fell at one-over 145.
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It marked the first time since the world rankings were created in
1986 that the top three ranked players in the world missed the cut
at a U.S. Open.
Johnson, who arrived late at Erin Hills following the birth of his
second child on Monday, will now have extra time to spend with his
infant son after returning a 73 for four-over.
Day, who had made the cut at every major since the 2012 PGA
Championship, followed up his opening round 79 with a 75, leaving
the Australian anchored near the bottom of the leaderboard at
10-over.
McIlroy, sidelined for a month with rib and back injuries, could not
shake off the rust missing the U.S. Open cut for the second
consecutive year.
The Northern Irishman closed out his round in style with four
birdies over his final six holes for a 71 but it was a case of too
little unable to undo the damage of a first round 78.
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![](../images/061717pics/sports47.jpg)
Paul Casey putts on the 11th green during the second round of the
U.S. Open golf tournament at Erin Hills. Mandatory Credit: Geoff
Burke-USA TODAY Sports
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"Myself and Rory, we didn't quite have the greatest
tee game yesterday and it showed in the scores," said McIlroy, who
finished at five-over. "I was out of it ... trying to stay out of
the way of Rory. "And unfortunately with where I was hitting it, I
wasn't in the way."
Casey, who began the day one shot back of Fowler, found trouble when
he flew his approach out of rough over the green at the par-five
14th, his fifth, into the deep fescue and needed five more strokes
to get in the cup.
A rattled Casey added another bogey at the 15th to extend his
miserable run before hitting the turbo-charger and firing off five
consecutive birdies.
"Not every day you enjoy a round of golf with an eight on the card,
but I'm a pretty happy man," said Casey. "It was a bit of a roller
coaster."
After an opening round 74, world number four Hideki Matsuyama looked
ready to join the parade of top ranked players to the exit but the
Japanese hit back with the joint best round of the day of
seven-under 65 to shoot up the leaderboard and into contention at
five-under.
Joining Matsuyama two shots back is an eclectic mix that includes
PGA Tour rookie Xander Schauffele (73), amateur Cameron Champ (69),
36-year-old PGA Tour veteran Brandt Snedeker (69) and 21-year-old
South Korean Kim Si-woo (70), the youngest player to win the Players
Championship.
(Editing by Ed Osmond and Andrew Both) [© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All
rights reserved.]
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